Liquified gas filler



Aug. 8, 19s? A. V. HEDSTROM LIQUIFIED GAS FILLER Filed May 1, 1964 INVENTOR. ALBERT 1 H505 TROM BY 29 2 r20? ATTORNEYS United States Patent Calif.

Filed May 1, 1964, Ser. No. 364,071 8 Claims. (Cl. 141-46) The present invention relates to a filler device for handing liquified gases, such as nitrogen, and is particularly directed to a device providing for the controlled and variable venting of a bottle which is being filled.

In the filling of relatively small liquified gas bottles, such as research Dewars, from source containers, it is desirable that a filler device be provided to facilitate the non-splashing delivery of liquified gases to the bottle and the controlled venting of the bottle. Non-splashing delivery assures that the useful capacity of the bottle will be filled and that loss of liquified gas resulting from boil-off and liquid entrapment in vented gas will be minimized. The latter characteristic is particularly important, since boil-off and entrapment of liquid in vented gas result in loss of the liquified gas and a hazard to the filler operator. Controlled venting assures that excessive evaporation of the liquified gas will not occur from the bottle during filling, that pressure within the bottle will not build up to a point impeding filling, and that the bottle will be adequately chilled by evaporative cooling.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the invention to provide a filler device for liquified gas bottles which has the aforementioned desirable characteristics.

Another and related object of the invention is to provide a filler device for liquified gas bottles which discharges liquified gas into the upper portions of the bottles with a minimum of disturbance.

Yet another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a filler device for a liquified gas bottle which functions as a means to introduce liquified gas into the bottle, as a valve to selectively vent the bottle, and as an indicator to signal when the rate of filling of the bottle is excessive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filler device adapted to be used with commercially available liquified gas bottles without requiring any modification of the bottles.

Broadly, the objects of the present invention are accomplished by a filler device comprising: a collar defined by a substantially annular section having an opening therethrough; a valve having an inlet aperture therethrough and being operatively associated with the opening in the collar to vary the area thereof; and conduit means communicating with the aperture of the valve. When operatively installed on a liquified gas bottle, the lower surface of the annular section of the collar rests on the periphery of the bottle neck and the conduit means extends through said neck and into the bottle. To complete the installation, a liquified gas source is connected in fluid communication with the inlet aperture of the valve and, thus, liquified gas is conveyed through the valve and conduit means and into the bottle. The operative association between the valve and the opening in the collar is such that the area of the opening is varied responsive to the pressure within the bottle.

The detailed structure of the invention and the foregoing and other advantages will become more apparent when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a commercially available liquified gas bottle having the filler of the present invention installed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating the internal details of the filler;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 with the venting elements therein shown in the open position.

Referring now to the detailed structure illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 10 illustrates a liquified gas bottle of conventional nature having a base 11, neck 12 and handles 13 and 14. The filling device to which the present invention is primarily directed is designated in its entirety by the numeral 15 and is shown installed in the bottle 10 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

The filling device 15 includes a collar 16 defined by an annular section of substantially frusto-conical configuration having an opening 17 through the center portion thereof. The opening 17 is defined by the inner periphery of the annular section and includes spaced slots 20 extending into said section. In the installed condition illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the collar 16 is received on the neck 12 with the lower surface thereof resting on the periphery of said neck. Springs 21 extending between the outer periphery of the collar 16 and the handles 13 and 14 resiliently hold the collar against the neck 12. From the subsequent discussion, it will be seen that the springs 21 perform a particular function in the venting operation of the device and that in certain instances the springs may be omitted.

The filling device 15 further includes a valve element 22 having an opening or passage 23 extending therethrough to a threaded sleeve section 24. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the Valve element 22 has a substantially rigid flange which is hexagonal in shape and received in the collar 16 in a position wherein the apexes thereof rest against the internal surface of said collar. The flat surfaces of the valve element 22 between said apexes are spaced from the internal surface of the collar 16 and thus define vent passages. In the operative condition illustrated, the sleeve section 24 has secured thereto by a fitting 25 a conduit 26 extending to a source (not illustrated) from which it is desired to transfer the liquified gas to the bottle 10. Preferably, the conduit 26 is fabricated of a light flexible material, such as nylon, so as to not interfere with the operation of the valve element 22, as will become apparent subsequently.

The valve element 22 has fixed to the lower side thereof in fluid communication with the opening 23 a tube 27 which extends loosely through the opening 17. The tube 27, as can be seen from FIG. 2, is of a length sufiicient that the lower end thereof extends considerably below the opening 17 when the valve element 22 is resting against the collar 16. The lower end of the tube 27 has fixed in fluid communication therewith a barrel 30 having an open lower end extending into the upper portion of the bottle 10 (see FIG. 1). Thus, the tube 27 and barrel 30 provide means whereby fluid may be conveyed from the opening 23 of the valve element and'into the upper portion of the bottle 10.

The barrel 30, as can be seen from FIG. 2, has an external diameter greater than that of the opening 17. An annular section 31 formed as the top portion of the barrel 30 extends to the tube 27 and is positioned so as to abut against the periphery of the opening 17 when the valve element 22 raises upwardly with respect to the collar 16, as will be developed subsequently. Thus, the section 31 functions as a stop means to prevent the barrel 30 from moving through the collar 16.

The structure associated with the barrel 30 is completed by a diffuser 32 received within the upper end of the barrel adjacent the annular section 31. The diffuser 32 is hexagonal in shape and has the apexes thereof in contact with the internal surface of the barrel and the flats thereof spaced from said internal surface (see FIG. 3). As so positioned, the diffuser 32 functions to direct all fluid entering the barrel 30 from the tube 27 against the internal walls of said barrel. This function is particularly desirable, since it results in the forming of an envelope of fluid within the barrel 30, which envelope creates a minimum of disturbance within the bottle upon being discharged thereinto.

In operation of the aforedescribed filling device, liq-' uified gas is conveyed to the bottle 10 from a main source (not illustrated) through means of the conduit 26, opening 23, tube 27, and barrel 30. The flow of liquified gas into the bottle 10, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, is accomplished by maintaining the interior of the vessel 10 at a relatively low pressure with respect to the pressure within the conduit 26 and the source communicating therewith. Low pressure within the bottle 10 is maintained by continuously venting the bottle to the atmosphere. In the condition illustrated in FIG. 2, this venting (see dashed lines) takes place through the opening 17 and around the valve element 22. The degree to which the 'bottle is vented around the valve element 22 varies responsive to the pressure within the bottle, since the valve element will lift off of the collar as pressure within the bottle increases. The differential in pressure between the interior of the bottle 10 and the atmosphere required to lift the valve element to a predetermined degree will be dependent on the weight of the valve element and the components fixed thereto.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the filling device is illustrated therein in a condition wherein pressure within the bottle 10 is sufficient to both lift the valve element 22 to the upper extremity of its position and to lift the collar 16 out of resting engagement with the periphery of the neck 12. In this condition, as indicated by the dashed arrow lines, gas is vented both around the valve element 22 and around the outside of the collar 16. Thus, the vent area is not limited by the maximum open area between the valve element 22 and the interior of the collar 16. It is noted that the slots 20 facilitate the venting of air through the interior of the collar 16, even though the barrel 30 is lifted to a position wherein the annular section 31 thereof abuts against the periphery of the opening 17. It is the abutting of the annular section 31 against the periphery of the opening 17 which functions to lift the collar 16 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

The degree to which the collar 16 is lifted responsive to a particular diflerential in pressure between the interior of the bottle 10 and the atmosphere is determined by the weight of the entire filling device 15 and may also befurther controlled through the utilization of hold-on springs 21, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It is to be understood, however, that the springs 21 function as an additional control means and in many instances may not be required. Use of the springs 21 is particularly desirable since they assure that the collar 16 will not be inadvertently dislocated from the neck 12 and that pressure surges within the bottle 10 will not blow the entire filling device 15 out of the neck.

In operation of the filling device 15, as described above, it can be seen that provision has been made both for the non-splashing delivery of liquified gas to the upper portion of a gas bottle and for the controlled venting of the bottle. In addition to these provisions, the filling device at the same time provides an indication to the operator thereof as to when the filling rate is excessive. Specifically, when the operator notices that the valve element 22 is lifting, he can surmise that the filling rate of the bottle is excessive and adjust the rate accordingly.

To conclude, from the foregoing detailed description it is believed apparent that the present invention enables the accomplishment of the objects initially set forth herein. In particular, an improved device is provided for filling liquified gas bottles to their optimum level with a minimum of liquified gas loss and resultant hazard. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described, but rather is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for filling liquified gas bottles, said device 7 comprising:

(a) a collar defined by a substantially annular section having an opening therethrough, said collar being adapted to be received on the open neck of a bottle to be filled with one side of said annular section resting on the periphery of said neck;

(b) a valve element positioned above said opening and proportioned relative thereto so as to rest on said collar and restrict the area of said opening, said valve element:

(1) having a substantially rigid flange which has an inlet aperture extending therethrough between the upper and lower portions thereof and means to secure a fluid charging conduit in communication with the upper portion of said aperture; and,

(2) being adapted, responsive to diflerentials in fluid pressure thereacross, to move up and down relative to said collar to vary the unrestricted area of said opening;

(c) a tube having one end secured to said valve element in fluid communication with the lower portion of said aperture and the other end extending loosely through said opening with said tube rigidly connected to said valve element and movably mounted in said opening whereby the weight of said tube urges said valve element into engagement with said collar; and, w

(d) a barrel fixed to the other end of said tube and having one end in fluid communication with said tube and the other end open and disposed at a level which will be above the normal liquid level in a bottle on which said collar is received.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said annular section is of substantially frustoconical configuration and the inner diameter thereof defines the periphery of said opening; and,

(b) when said collar is received on the open neck of a bottle said annular section extends partially thereinto so as to dispose said opening within said neck.

3. A device for filling liquified gas bottles, said device comprising:

(a) a collar defined by a substantially annular section having an opening therethrough, said collar being adapted to be received on the open neck of a bottle to be filled with one side of said annular section resting on the periphery of said neck;

(b) a valve element positioned above said opening and proportioned relative thereto so as to rest on said collar and restrict the area of said opening, said valve element:

(1) having an inlet aperture extending therethrough between the upper and lower portions thereof and means to secure a fluid charging conduit in communication with the upper portion of said aperture; and,

(2) being adapted, responsive to differentials in fluid pressure thereacross, to move up and down relative to said collar to vary the unrestricted area of said opening;

(c) a tube having one end secured to said valve element in fluid communication with the lower portion of said aperture and the other end extending loosely through said opening;

(d) a barrel fixed to the other end of said tube and having one end in fluid communication with said tube and the other end open and disposed at a level comprises a polygonal member having the apexes thereof contacting the internal surface of said barrel and the flats thereof spaced from said surface.

5. A device for filling liquified gas bottles, said device comprising:

(a) a collar defined by a substantially annular section having an opening therethrough, said collar being adapted to be received on the open neck of a bottle to be filled with one side of said annular section resting on the periphery of said neck;

(b) a valve element positioned above said opening and proportioned relative thereto so as to rest on said collar and restrict the area of said opening, said valve element:

( 1) having an inlet aperture extending therethrough between the upper and lower portions thereof and means to secure a fluid charging conduit in communication with the upper portion of said aperture; and,

(2) being adapted, responsive to differentials in fluid pressure thereacross, to move up and down relative to said collar to vary the unrestricted area of said opening;

(c) a tube having one end secured to said valve element in fluid communication with the lower portion of said aperture and the other end extending loosely through said opening;

(d) a barrel fixed to the other end of said tube and having one end in fluid communication with said tube and the other end open and disposed at a level which will be above the normal liquid level in a bottle on which said collar is received, and stop means to prevent said barrel from moving through said opening when said valve element moves upwardly relative to said collar, and wherein said stop means abuts against said annular section to lift said collar from the bottle neck when the differential in pressure across said valve element reaches a predetermined level.

6. A device according to claim 5, including holding means adapted to resiliently secure said collar to the neck of a bottle to control said predetermined level.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said holding means comprises at least one spring adapted to be secured in engagement between the periphery of said collar and the outside of a bottle on which said collar is received.

8. A device for filling liquified gas bottles, said device comprising:

(a) a collar defined by a substantially annular section having an opening therethrough, said collar being adapted to be received on the open neck of a bottle to be filled with the lower side of said annular section resting on the periphery of said neck;

(b) a valve element positioned above said opening and proportioned relative thereto so as to rest on said collar and restrict the area of said opening, said valve element:

(1) having a substantially rigid flange which has an inlet aperture extending therethrough between the upper and lower portions thereof and means to secure a fluid charging conduit in communication with the upper portion of said aperture; and,

(2) being adapted, responsive to differentials in fluid pressure thereacross, to move up and down relative to said collar to vary the unrestricted area of said opening;

(c) conduit means communicating with the aperture of said valve means to convey fluid therefrom into a bottle on which said collar is received at a level above the normal liquid level in said bottle with said conduit means rigidly conected to said valve element and movably mounted in said opening whereby the Weight of said conduit means urges said valve element into engagement with said collar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,442 6/ 1904 Schneider 141294 2,893,445 7/ 1959 Geitner l4l294 FOREIGN PATENTS 816,110 4/1937 France.

67,539 6/1929 Sweden.

OTHER REFERENCES German printed application M21394 III/ 64B, December 1955.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR FILLING LIQUIFIED GAS BOTTLES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A COLLAR DEFINED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY ANNULAR SECTION HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, SAID COLLAR BEING ADAPTED TO BE RECEIVED ON THE OPEN NECK OF A BOTTLE TO BE FILLED WITH ONE SIDE OF SAID ANNULAR SECTION RESTING ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID NECK; (B) A VALVE ELEMENT POSITIONED ABOVE SAID OPENING AND PROPORTIONED RELATIVE THERETO SO AS TO REST ON SAID COLLAR AND RESTRICT THE AREA OF SAID OPENING, SAID VALVE ELEMENT: (1) HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID FLANGE WHICH HAS AN INLET APERTURE EXTENDING THERETHROUGH BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF AND MEANS TO SECURE A FLUID CHARGING CONDUIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID APERTURE; AND, (2) BEING ADAPTED, RESPONSIVE TO DIFFERENTIALS IN FLUID PRESSURE THEREACROSS, TO MOVE UP AND DOWN RELATIVE TO SAID COLLAR TO VARY THE UNRESTRICTED AREA OF SAID OPENING; (C) A TUBE HAVING ONE END SECURED TO SAID VALVE ELEMENT IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID APERTURE AND THE OTHER END EXTENDING LOOSELY THROUGH SAID OPENING WITH SAID TUBE RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE ELEMENT AND MOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID OPENING WHEREBY THE WEIGHT OF SAID TUBE URGES SAID VALVE ELEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COLLAR; AND, (D) A BARREL FIXED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID TUBE AND HAVING ONE END IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TUBE AND THE OTHER END OPEN AND DISPOSED AT A LEVEL WHICH WILL BE ABOVE THE NORMAL LIQUID LEVEL IN A BOTTLE ON WHICH SAID COLLAR IS RECEIVED. 